Changed from OEM to LED Number Plate Modules.

[LESmo]

All this talk about changing Bulbs made me think. Perhaps I should swap the Number Plate Bulbs for LED Bulbs, Its easy enough and taking advice on here I knew the only thing I had to be careful of is losing wires in the car.

 

I started looking around and found these on Amazon, thought well as the existing ones had been on for nearly 3 years - I may as well take the plunge.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ET5752W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

£16.95 is a lot more than buying just Bulbs - but I would have the spare set and could clean up those for replacements perhaps with LED bulbs when I wanted to do it. They arrived in two days.

 

 

 

When they first arrived I thought they were different, I cannot say I had ever stuck my head under that part of the car. The are exactly the same although Black plastic instead of the White 9ish) colour of the last ones - but now they watch the rest of that area. I left it until I had time I didn't want to lose any wires.

 

First although it was almost daylight I took a picture of the current OEM Bulbs

 

 

Orange colour not very bright. But how often do you ever see the back of your car.

 

I changed the first one on the Nearside of the Car.

 

 

I just took a small flat blade as the clip is really stiff. Extracted the existing mobile. There is a plug that goes into the bulb holder. I unplugged that and put it straight into the new Module. There is also a lock tab got the wire on the new module I guess to prevent the cable coming lose and then disappearing. Took about a two minutes to do the first side and test. You can really see the difference left to right.

 

Then I sent about on the offside of the car.

 

 

Finally I stood back and admired the brilliance that was my LED modules and set about cleaning up the old ones which had been on the car.

 

 

I will take a picture when it is properly Dark tonight to show it in full affect but a 18 high power SMD LED Licence Number Plate Light Module on each side it has definitely lit up the rear of the car. I would say while expensive compared to the bulb the added advantage of replacing the entire module and the extra LEDs over a bulb replacement make it worth it.

[Sarg]

I got them they do look good at night bloody bright lol

 

http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/itrsarg/Mobile%20Uploads/42986B24-93D3-4B9C-A66E-96B95544AB96.jpg

[Paul_S]

Wow, they are bright!

 

I'm sure it wouldn't be an MOT failure since the bulb/lens isn't exposed but there are rules against white lights on the rear of cars.

[LESmo]

[LESmo]

True Paul but as far as I can tell they are perfectly legal as they do not project the white light out only down. And actually comply with the requirements to allow proper illumination of the number plate

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/15/made

[Paul_S]

Nice one!

 

It's always a worry when you are going down the motorway and see a white lights ahead! Thankfully it's only happened to me a couple of times!

[PaulW]

That is bright, might appear brighter as it's a white car?

 

As for mot they won't test it in the dark so probably won't even notice if it is an issue!!!

[LESmo]

I thought that this morning, I am sure if it was say a darker colour it would defuse the light, as it is it almost makes the plate look back lit. Also both cars are really clean. I could not really notice say a white glow behind the car this morning, just the usual red LED glow. As you say in a workshop I think it will go to just well illuminated. Still have the old ones if it is ever an issue.

 

I looked this morning and a lot of new BMW's seem to have LED Number pleate lights and on the higher end model I saw this morning they were nearly as illuminated.

[PaulW]

So just to be sure make sure it's really dirty when you get it mot'd!!!

[LESmo]

Good Tip mate

[Paul_S]

Like that's going to happen!

[Chilli Red]

Paul would, but not Les

[JohnFK]

He wouldn't even be able to bring himself to sit in it.

[LESmo]

I noticed the other day on the reverse camera that one of the LED's is failing and flickering. So after a year I have changed the units out for a new set. They only take about 5 minutes a side to fit and swapping them is just as easy. I have noticed LEDs either are really good and last or fail fairly quickly - it was the same with the interior ones. Still £16.95 a set.

[Paul_S]

Yes, I've had some sidelight LEDs fail (which are more tricky to change) and it's a pain. Sadly it's not a case of buy cheap, buy twice. Sometimes the expensive ones fail quite quickly too. It's a bit of a gamble unless you can find a set which have been around a few years with good long-term reviews.

[JohnFK]

Looking back at the pics the white light is certainly impressive but .... have you thought about getting a larger, shaped number plate to fit the recess. I know its a personal thing but I think it just makes it look a bit more special (not "normal"!).

 

I'm sure somebody on here has a larger rear plate....